Electrocatalytic water oxidation by copper(ii) complexes containing a tetra- or pentadentate amine-pyridine ligand.

Two water soluble copper(ii) complexes containing amine-pyridine ligands were found to be catalytically active for water oxidation reactions in basic solutions, with observed rate constants of 13.1-18.7 s-1. These complexes are robust in basic solutions and displayed good stability over 5 h of electrolysis in pH 11.5 phosphate buffer at 1.4 V vs. NHE.